Florida linebackers pop up on USC board

Thursday

Jan 24, 2013 at 10:27 PM

Phil Kornblut

USC has identified two more linebacker targets in the state of Florida and both are interested in the Gamecocks. James Hearns (6-4 230) of Tallahassee and Tyrell Lyons (6-2 220) of Jacksonville are now part of the group of linebackers USC is working in hopes of signing two or three more for this class. Hearns was committed to Florida until ending that relationship this week. He talked with USC linebackers coach and recruiter Kirk Botkin a couple of weeks ago. "Now that I'm not committed I'm going to give them a call," Hearns said. "Coach Botkin told me they need linebackers and he can see me fitting well into their defense. I'm definitely, definitely interested. It's a great team and a great program." Hearns will visit Kentucky this weekend. He visited Auburn last weekend and is also looking at Louisville and Houston. Hearns suffered a torn ACL as a junior but said he had no problems with the knee last season. Lyons is committed to Florida State but plans to take an official visit to USC this weekend. He's been committed to the Seminoles since February and visited there two weeks ago. Some of his other offers are Louisville, North Carolina, Miami, Ohio State, West Virginia and Ole Miss.